Apparatus for making types and lines of type.



PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

} F. H. RICHARDS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING TYPES AND LINES OF TYPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1 902.

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Witnesses A w No. 886,328. PATENTED-APR. 28, 1908.

F. H. RICHARDS. v APPARATUS FOR- MAKING TYPES AND LINES OF TYPE;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15.1902.

' s sums-sum 2.

Wyna 6866- A inventor:

PATENTED APR. 28, 1908. I. H. RICHARDS. I APPARATU$ FOR MAKING TYPES AND LINES OF TYPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 19 02.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses My 2% UNITED STATES Par-Eur OFF-ICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN TYPQGRAPH IO CORPORATION, A-GORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING TYPES AND LINES OF TYPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2a, 1908.

Application flled luly 15, 1902.' Serial No. 115,622.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fmincrs H. RICHARDS,

a citizen of the United States, residingat Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in A paratus for Making Types and Linesof ype, of

' which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to means for making types, and a succession of the same constituting a line of type or a typebar and more especially does, the invention relate to apparatus which operates to form. type by the aid of semblage of dies, matrices or other impression devices shall be capable of being brought into action in proper sequence or order and caused to operate upon a proper blank, each die, etc. when operating to im ress the blank as well as the portion of'the b ank under the die being in, a heated condition whereby the resistance oil'ered by the blank to the forming action of the die is diminished. It isnot contemplated, however, that the heat shall be suflicient to, cause the material of the.

blankto'fiow too freely, but shall be adequate only to diminish the internal cohesion of such material to an amount suflicing to facilitate to some degree the pro-diiction of the type. Thus, amechanism embodying my present improvements will comprise suitable impression devices, suchas dies-0r matrices,

which in number and confi uration corre spond with the character an variety of the I composition to be produced. These dies when an operation in sequence is desired, will be, ordinarily, sorelated to the blank to be operated upon that they are ca able of beingbrought in proper sequence to t 1e working point.

' or the purpose of bringing each working die and the portion of the blank thereunder to and maintain the same in a sufiiciently heated condition, I employ, accordin to the,

present improvements, an electric eating current and ordinaril so combine an electric circuit with themechanism that the move-v ment of the die from its normal or inoperative position to a position in which it acts upon and impresses the blank is effective to close the circuit and thereafter by the conversion of the electric energy into heat the temperature of the working) die and the material of the blank which is eing shaped into atype is raised. According to the preferred mode of carrying the present improvements into practice, moreover, I mount the blank upon a suitable support insulated from loss of heat, whereby t e heat arising from the passage of the current is revented'in large measure from-being absorbed and dissipated and the tendency created to localize the heat within the blank and under the working die.

The temperature of the blank is thus maintained if not augmented from the instant that the die begins its work until and during the last stages of its operation when the amount of energy necessary to cause the matcrial of the blank to conform 'to the configuration of the die approaches a maximum.

Thus durin those stages of the die working when the eiifort of the die is relatively greatest the tendency .of the heat to diminish the internal cohesion or resistance of the material is maintained. I

Another species of type making apparatus utilizing heat applied in a way other than described and illustrated herein, is set forth in my pending application Serial No. 215,725), refiled July 8, 1904, original application filed May 27, 1902.

1n the drawings accompanying the present specification there is set forth a simple organization of mechanism for carrying into effect my present improvements, and in these drawings Figure 1 is mainly a central longitudinal section of the mechanism, parts being shown however in elevation; Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking from the left in Fig. 1,

V 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the mechanism.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all figures.

For the purpose of conveniently supporting the various dies, matrices or other impression devices, and to enable them to be conveniently adjusted for the purpose of loeating any desired die etc. at the working point, I Wlll ordinarily em loy some suitable cm of carrier upon whic the dies may be intended for the 'urpose of illustrating an operative device, t e same not being shown as comprising all the elements and refinements of organization of a commercially workable machine, an angularly adjustable carrier des- 1 ated in a general way by B is indicated,

t e same bein rotatably mounted upon a fixed stud b ri idlysecured to and extending from a base provided in the present instance with legs 0'. Adjacent to the periphery of the carrier B the dies or matrices are mountedjand while I have indicated a comparatively small number of dies, designated without preference by d, the number thereof may manifestly difi er. In the organization shown each die d is located at the end of a corresponding stein'2 longitudinally reciprocatabie in an opening in the carrier. Each stem 2 is encircled by a spri 3 located in the enlarged bore 3 of the opening in which the stem is slidable. Each spring at one end bears against an insulating plug 3 firmly secured in the bottom of the opening in the carrier and through an opening in which plug the stem 2 of the die slides. At the opposite end the spring bears against a collar 4 of insulating material secured to the stem 2 and constituting a head slidable with the stem, the s ring being under compression whereby the e and stem is ur ed to its upward or ino erative position. he purpose of making t e aforesaid plug and collar of insulating material will a pear later, In this instance the stem of eac die is angular in cross-section.

and the openingin the plug 3? is of similar cross-section, thus reventing the rotation of the die during the l hngitudinal movement of the stem and insurin the correct position of the die when forced down upon the block, as

so will be adverted to later on. For limiting v the upward movement of each die and its stem under the action of its elevating sprin 3 there is in this instance combined mth eac head 4 a corresponding stop-piece 5 which projects sufiiciently far toward the axis of the stem to cause the piece to engage with the head, a screw 5 serving to fixedl secure the stolp-piece to the upper surface 0 the carrier, n the use of the slmplespecies-oi mechanism illustrated, it is intended that the carrier shall be turned upon the axis of the supporting stud 1; until a chosen die shall have been brou ht to the workizpoint. For facilitat ing t his manually i acted angular adjust eaasas bearing at one on merit of the carrier, the latter may have, and

may'have been adjusted in bringing aselectedor chosen die to the working point of the machine. In the construction set forth this means comprises an arm 6 fixedly secured to the upper end of the'stud b and projecting radia yacross the carrier, a do riding p01?- means will be provided for tion 6 of the arm overhanging t e outer edge of the latter. In this overhanging portion 6 is mounted a locking pin 7 having a fingen piece 7 and also having in the form illustrated a tapering end 7" adapting it to engage with any one of a number of radial sockets 8 provided in the carrier, the relation be ing such that when the locking pin is engaged with one of these sockets the corresponding die will be properly located with reference to the working point. The locking pin 7 'is in this instance spring-pressed to insure its engagement with the sockets, the means for this purpose comprising a spring 9 under compression and seated in a recess 9 formed in the overhan in ortion 6" in the arm and formed, on the locking pin while at its opposite end the spring bears against a plug 9 se cured into the outer end of saidopening.

' Referring now to the blank from which types are formed and the means for supporting it at the working point, it will be of proper material and its form will depend of courseupon the articular modevof operation carried out y the mechanismi when in use,

whether, for instance, the latter is to be utilized formaking se arate t pes or for making lines of ty e, eac 'embo type-like c aractera'or w 'ether it is to be utilized for providi rying edge of a type ar bla with its com plement of ty es to form a typebar of greater or less lengt The means for supportin the blank will manifestly likewise vary Wat the configuration of the latter, and while i.

have for the purpose of illustration setforth a particular'form and construction of both blank and an port therefor, it will be readily understood tll at thesefe atures maybe widely varied without de arting from the spirit of the invention. T is blank illustrated in this instance is represented in the form of a strip or ribbon E suitable for forming a line of type and having an under-cut or dovetailed rib c alon its lower edge, ada ting the blankor' the ine of type formed t ,erefrom to be can gaged with a roper typebar body-piece or sup ort. If a .lank of such a cross-sectional against a shoulder 9 mg two or more.

the up er or type-can x con guration be used, the support for main gages.

or groove with which such'under-out rib e'n-. In this instance, the -die operation results from the rectilinear movement of the die thereby compressi the material of the blank, and in the simp e species of-mechanism illustrated, this compressing movement of the die is accomplished by depressing a hand-lever 10 which is fulcrunied by a pin 10 to asupport 10, secured to the aforesaid fixed stud b and here shown as a nut-like member screwed onto the end of the stud, a washer 2 being interposed between the nut-like member and the opposed face of the arm 6. On one side of the pivot-pin '10 there is a second pivot-pin 1]. connecting the lever with -a plunger 1 1, which works in an o ening in the arm 6, so'located that when the is shall have I been brought to a workin position, and the locking pin 7 engaged wit the proper socket in the carrier, the lunger is adapted to contact with the head 4 on the stem of the located 'die (the said head being preferably somewhat concave and the contact end of the plunger somewhat convex). By aforcible movement of the hand lever, thedie is forced downwardly and compresses the blank at the proper point. Freedom of movement of the plunger 11 withreference' to the lever 10, is assured by the location of the ivot-pin 11 of the plunger in a slot 10 in t e lever, while a handle 10* is provided on the lever 10 for the ready manipulation thereof. The lever is returned to it's upward position -(to permit the ready and free adjustment of the carrier B) through the action of a spring 12 which connects an extension 12 on the lever with an ear 12 extending, in this instance,

rearwardly from the arm 6.

Coming now to the means for heating the dies, whereby when a die shall be applied to the surface of the blank, an amount of heat shall be developed sufficient to decrease to a more or less extent, the internal resistance or cohesion of the material thereof, I utilize for this purpose an electric circuit in which is included the blank being operated upon, and preferably so combine such circuit with the type making mechanism that the circuitis completed throu h the working die and thator'tion of the lank. directly thereunder. n the present case, the circuit is broken when the die after its operation is lifted to withdraw it from the face of the blank. Thus the current flows and the electric energy is converted into heat in overcoming the resistance offered to its passage by the material under the die at such periods only as the successively located dies operate upon the blank.

It should here be stated that a guide-plate 13 is provided, which plate is in this instance secured to a 0st 14 located upon the base C, and is provi ed with an opening 13 for centering and steadying the descending die.

Since in-the. illustrated form of mechanism the binding post for the attachment of one of the circuit wires is mounted upon the guideplate 13, and'aslthe die in its descent may contact with the guide-plate, I prefer that the connection of the guide-plate with its supporting post shall be such as to insulateit therefrom, and have therefore shown suitable insulating devices 14' interposed be-.

tween the post and the securing screw 13 of the plate. The binding post 15-, to which is attached one of the circuit wires to is mounted. upon the guide-plate 13 and likewise insulated therefrom y means of suitable insulating means such as 15: When a (lie descends afte'rhaving been brought over the opening in the guide-plate, it comes in contact with a flexible finger or brush 16 in electrical communication with the binding 0st 15 and circuit wire w, and when the die s all have contacted with the blank the circuit is closed through the binding post 15, via the brush 16, die-stem 2 of the working die, and blank E, to the remaining binding post' 17 which isscrewed into a block 1.8 serving. to support the blank in a sufiiciently rigid mannor to permit the satisfactory operation of the dies. Preferably the supporting block 18 is mounted in such a manner as to mini mize the tendency to absorb and dissipate the heat into which the electrical energy is transformed as well as to electrically insulate it from the adjacent metallic parts. To this end the block is in direct contact with-insulatin g means such as 19 located in a channel in a holder 20 in which the block is mounted.

This holder is fixed rigidly on the base C, and

the aforesaid bindin 0st l7 is likewise insulated from the ho er, being in this instancescrewed directly into the aforesaid block 18. To the binding post 17 the remaining circuit wire to is attached. These wires w, w serveto convey the current from a suitable source of electric energy, not shown. The blank E is fed through a slot 18 in the block 18.

Some means .will ordinarily be provided for feeding the blank to and past the working point, in orderthat successively located dies may operate upon consecutive portions of the blank. Any means appropriate for the purpose may be employed, ut in the simple mechanism illustrated a hand feed is indicated which when properly operated causes the blank to be fed forward step by ste an amount corresponding to the width o the types made upon its edge. The feeding mechanism in the form thereof indicated comprises a lever 21 fulcrumed bya stud 21 to a post 22. This lever is connected by a link 23 with a pawl-carrier 24, pivoted by a stud 24. concentrically with a notched feed wheel 25. Upon the pawl-carrier there is pivotally mounted a spring-pressed pawl 24 engaging with the teeth of the feed wheel.

In juxtaposition to the aforesaid notched-s wheel ,is rotatably mounted a presser roll 26, in such relation to the notched feed, wheel that the space between the peripheries of the two is somewhat less than thewidthof the blank fed to the machine, in order that the teeth oi the notched wheel may engage with the face of the blank to a suflicient depth, to cause noon the rotation of the'notched wheel the fee ing of the blankl Both the .lfeed roll and the presser roll are in this instance insired die into alinement with the-aperturesulatd from their sufpports (such insulationbe ing indicated by respectively) in order to preclude the current from passing to the machine frame and thence to ground.

The locking pin 7, after having been withdrawn from the engaged socket, permits the free angular movement of the "carrier B which may then be turned; to bring the de- 13 in the guide-plate 13.. Upon the release of thelockmg pin, it enters its proper socket 8 in the carrier, and the latter becomes locked against further movement. Assuming now that the'pro er section or portion of the blank is locate in proper relation to the opening or aperture 13, the depression of the hand-lever 10.1 esults in the forcing down of the stem of the located die and ultimately, in the'engagement of the die at the end of the stem, with the blank. During this time,

however, the circuit having been closed by reason of the contact of the brush or finger 16 with the depressed die, and the electric current in overcoming the resistance of the metal of the blank, is converted in a large measure into heat, thereby raising the temperature of the blank, although as before stated it is'not i which the continuous ribbon designed that the temperature shall be such as to cause a too free fiuidcondition of the portion of the blank in the die, but shall merely heat the blank toan extent sufiicin to overcome in some measure the in'terna cohesion of the material thereof in order that the formative action of the descending die to bring-the next sectionor portion of the blank into alinement with the opening 13 upon the necessaryadjustment of the diecarrier to bring the roper die to the working point the tyi'e may e made as before.

In the ma" ike'blank is to be severed after a proper number of types ing movement.

ing of lines of ty e, the point at have been formed thereon, may be indicated by a separate die having a V-shaped working portion (this die beingmarked b Line 111 Fig; 3) operating to notch the or at the point of division after which the bar may, by

suitable means be severed at that oint.

The particuiar advantage resu ting from the use of heatapplied from an extraneous working of the die nears its completion, the

diminution of the internal resistance or cohesion caused by the heat is maintained at a maximum, thus facilitating the roduction of the type at that stage in whic it is highly advantageous that such internal resistance should be a minimum,to-wit: when the effort that the workingdie should exert is naturallythe greatest,

Having describedmy invention, I claim- 1, The combination with a support for a blank, of a type die adapted to engage with a blank in such'support and form a type thereon, and an electric circuit for heating the blank, and means for closing the circuit during the working of the die and blank.

2. The combination with a support for a blank, of a plurality of selective type dies adapted to form on a blank in such support a succession of ty es, and'an electriccircuit for heating the b ank, and means for closing the circuit during the type formation.

3. 'The combination with a support for a blank, of 'aplurality of selective type dies adapted to form on a blank in such support-a succession of types, an electric circuit forheatin the blank, and means for closing the same during each type forming operation.

4. The combination with means for su porting and insulating a blank, of a type die adapted to' engage with a supported and insulated blankand form a t pe thereon, an electric circuit for heating t e blank during the .type formin operation, and a' circuit closer controlled by the type diein its work- 5. The combination with means for supporting and insulating a blank, of a plurality of selective type dies ada ted to form on a supported and insulated lank a succession of t pes; an electric circuit, andmeansfor ren ering the same effective during each type forming o eration for heating the blank.

6. The com ination with a support fora blank, of a t pe die adapted to engage with a blank in sue support and form a t pe there'- on, an electric circuit and -means or rendering the same effective during the formin operation for heating the blank, and fee mechanism operative to impart a step by step movement to the blank.

circuit closer controlled by the die in its movement, and feed mechanism operative to impart a step bystep movement to the blank.

8. The combination with a support for a blank, of a pluralityof selective type dies adapted to form on a blank in such support a succession of types, an electric circuit, and

the blank, and feed mechanism operative to impart a step by step movement to the blank.

9. The combination with frieans for supporting and insulating a blank, of a type die adapted to engage with a supported and insulated blank and form a type thereon, an electric circuit for heating the blank during the ty eforming operation, a circuit closer controlled by the type die in its working movement, and feed mechanism operative to impart a step by step movement to the blank.

10. The combination with an adjustable carrier, of a lurality of type dies mounted thereon, an e ectric circuit embodying a die controlled circuit closed for heating a blank when locatedin juxtaposition to the working point of the machine, a heat insulating hblder upon which that portion of the blank is sup ported which is subjected to the action of the said electric circuit and the workingdie, and feed mechanism for feeding a blank through such support.

11. The combination with an adjustable carrier, of a plurality of type dies mounted thereon, means for effecting the working engagement of the die when located in juxtaposition to the working point of the machine, a guide for centering and steadying the die during its working, and an electric circuit for heating a blank, a circuit closer controlled by the die in the working movement, a heat insulating substance ap lied to that portion of the carrier subjected to the heat of saidelectric current, an insulated su port for supporting that portion of said b ank sub jected to the action of the working die, and feed mechanism for imparting a step by step movement to the blank.

12. The combination withua die and a blank holder, of a guide for centering the die when brou ht into engagement with a blank in the holder, an electrical circuit in which is included a source of electrical energy and a blank within the holder, and means for closing the circuit simultaneously with the movement of the die to its working positions.

13. The combination with a (he and a blank holder, of a guide for centering the die means forrendering the same effective durmg each type forming operation for heating when brou ht into engagement with a blank in thaholtTer, a lunger for forcing the die against the blan an electrical circuit in which is included a source of electrical ener y, and means for closing the circuit simuTtaneously with the movement of the die to its working position.

14. The combination with a die and a blank holder, of a guide for centerimg the die when brought into engagementwith a blank in the holder, and an electrical circuit in which is included a source of elec trical energy, and a spring finger interposed in the ath of the die during the movement of the atter to effect its enga ement with the blank, the other terminal oi said circuit being electrically connected to the blank.

15. The combination with a shiftable die carrier rovided with a plurality of dies, and a blank holder, of :a -gu1de for centering the successively selected dies when successively brought into engagement with a blank in the holder, an electrical circuit in which is included a source of electrical energy, and means for closing the circuit simultaneously with the movement of the die to its working position. 4

16. The combination with a rotatable die carrier provided with a plurality of dies,

shiftable parallel to the axis of the rotatable i carrier provided with a plurality of dies, and

a blank holder, of a guide for centering the dies when successively brought into engagement with the blank in the holder, an electrical circuit in which is included a source of electrical energy, means for closing the circuit simultaneously with the movement of the die to its working position, and feed mechanism.

18. The combination with a rotatable die carrier provided with a plurality of axially reciprocatable dies and a blank holder, of means or successively positioning the dies, an electric switch in position to be con trolled by any die as the same is moved into operative relation with a blank in the holder, and means for feeding a blank in the holder by increments. i

19. The combination with a support for a blank, of a type die adapted to engage with a blank in such support andform type thereon, and an electric circuit for hcatin the blank during the working of the the an closed by the die during the working thereof. 20. The combination of a-support for a blank, of a pluralityot' selective t pe dies adapted to form on a blank in sucli form a section of ty es, and an electric circuit for said blank, and an electric circuit for heating heating the lank end embodying a circuit 1 closer closed by the die as it a workin position.

v 21. he combination with &

blank member, of a type die mem for moving one of eaid members into en gagement'with the other to form a, type on one of said members'and thrown into operw- 10 pproaches its i tionduring the type formation.

[ t F RANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses. I

FRED. J. DOLE, I JOHN OLSEIFERT.

sugport for a er, means 

